Electrical measuring apparatus



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ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 E IN PHASE E 90 OUT fit amen view JOHN F. HERSH JAMES J. FARAN JR. JOHN R. REITZ Jul 13, 1954 J. F. HERSH ET AL ,858

ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1946 10 Shee ts-Sheet 5 iii/l7 |8 9) Lil *v OUT AVG. E's l9 FEG. 80 0 0 -E Ave.

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ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS July 13, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 3|:V OUT:32 $30 I 27 28 Filed Jan. 24, 1846 T m 25 26 I 39 OUT g 5 ilk JOHN F. HERSH JAMES J. FARAN JR.

JOHN R. REITZ July 13, 1954 J. F. HERSH ET AL ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 24, 1946 V OUT FIG. ll

FREQUENCY JOHN HERSH JAMES J. FARAN JR. JOHN R. REITZ VO LTS July 13, 1954 J. F. HERSH ET AL ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS lO Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 24, 1946 July 13, 1954 J. F. HERSH ETAL 2,683,858

ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR i J JOHN F. HERSH JAMES J. FARAN JR JOHN R: REITZ )3.

ATTORNEYS July 13, 1954 J. F. HERSH ET AL 2,683,

ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 PILOT LIGHT POWER SWITCH 1 g? 0 ID g 2 (D m & LO

INVENTOR 9 JOHN F. HERSH L JAMES J. FARAN JR.

BY JOHN R. gsl'rz ATTORNEYS Patented July 13, 1954 ELECTRICAL MEASURING APPARATUS John F. Hersh and bridge, Mass, lege, Pa.

James J. Faran, Jr., Camand John R. Rcitz, State Col- Application January 24, 1946, Serial No. 643,158

Claims.

Our invention relates to impedance measuring devices more particularly to methods of and means for representing graphically the magnitude of the resistive and reactive components of an impedance.

application is copending with application, serial Number 654,198, filed March 13, 1946, by John F. Hersh, James J. Farah, Jr., and John R.

now Patent N 0. 2,523,115.

A critical factor in the application of electromechanical transducers, filters, wave guides, antennas, etc. to electrical equipment is the impedance of these devices under varying conditions of frequency, applied voltage, etc. In particular, in the measurement of resonant circuits, such as those of underwater sound transducers, it has been customary to take a point-by-point meas- "nent of the impedance of the transducer ciras the frequency is changed over a range ng the point of resonance of the trans- I Measurements of this type are essential to the effective application of the transducer.

l-leretoi'ore, the variation of an impedance with f .quency has been obtained by analytical methoos by experimentation. Analytical methods tedious and often inaccurate. They also demand simplifying assumptions, the validity of which may questionable. Experimental methods, including the use of impedance and admittance bridges, solve the problem satisfactorily, insofar as accuracy and range are concerned, but are time-consuming and laborious. This is particularly true when a complex impedance locus passing through a resonance point is encountered.

It particulany important, therefore, that a device be available capable of quickly plotting the impedance locus of a frequency sensitive element. In the interest of minimizing the time consumed hence th expense of routine impedance measurements over a wide band of frequency, it

desirable that such a device be capable of plotting directly the impedance locus, thereby eliminating the need for converting the resulting measurements to the desired scale. The device should also be capable of plotting the impedance locus with a high degree of speed.

It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide a device capable of accurately, quickly, and conveniently plotting the complex impedance locus of a frequency sensitive element over a wide range of frequency.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a graph of the complex impedance locus of the impedance tested in a form suitable for visual obseravtion or a permanent record.

In accordance with our invention, the impedance to be tested is placed in a non-resonant circuit having an applied voltage of the frequency at which the measurement is desired, and capable of varying over the necessary frequency range. The voltage drop across the test impedance is resolved into two components, one corresponding to the component of voltage drop in phase with the current through the test impedance, and the other corresponding to th out of phase component of voltage drop. These two voltage components are then amplified and presented on a cathode ray tube screen, one component on one axis of the screen and the other component on the second axis of the screen.

In accordance with a further feature of our invention, the frequency of the voltage is rapidly varied throughout the range desired to be covered, thereby producing on the cathode ray screen, a single trace covering entire range of operation and which can be photographed or visually examined to determine the characteristics of the impedance under test.

Our invention also resides in features of construction, combination, and arrangement, whereby an accurate measure of impedance is obtained over a wide frequency range.

While our invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, we have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail only the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that we do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure, for we aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the figures:

Figure 1 shows the presentation of impedance desired to be obtained by our plotter.

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the basic principle of our invention.

Figure 3 shows how the in phase component of the impedance is measured.

Figure 4 shows how the quadrature or out of phase component of the impedance is measured.

Figure 5 shows a resolver circuit operating on the principle of our invention.

Figure 6 illustrates the operation of the resolver circuit of Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows a full wave resolver circuit.

Figure 8 illustrates the operation of the resolver shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows the combination of two full wave resolver circuits to achieve a balanced voltage output.

Figure shows the production of a balanced output voltage from a single full wave resolver circuit and a balanced amplifier;

Figure 11 shows a phase shift circuit whereby frequency changes are prevented from influencing operation of the phase shift portion of our system.

Figure 12 illustrates the operation of the circuit shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 shows a difi'erencer circuit adapted to operate with our phase shift circuit of Figure 11.

Figure 14 shows a block diagram of a complete system utilizing our invention.

Figure 15 A, B and C is a circuit diagram or the invention shown in block form in Figure 1e,

Referring now to Figure l, which shows the desired presentation of the impedance. In the figure, X represents the axis of reactance, the distance of any point on the chart along this axis indicating the capacitive or inductive reactance of the circuit, and R, represents the axis of resistance, distances along this axis indicating the resistive component of the impedance. In general, any impedance such as Z will have two components, one a reactive component indicated by a distance along the X axis, and the other a resistive component indicated by the distance along the R axis. These two components combine to determine a single point indicated by the tip of the vector Z. Inasmuch as variations in frequency alter the magnitude of the X and R components of the impedance, the tip of vector Z describes a locus as frequency is varied, this locus indicating the characteristics of the impedance being measured over the frequency range desired.

The basic circuit of our invention is shown in Figure 2. In the figure, 5 indicates a constant voltage source of the particular frequency at which measurement is to be made. Resistance 2 and test impedance 3 are connected in series relationship across this voltage, the value of resistance '2 being very large with respect to the value of impedance 3. For these conditions, the current flow through impedance 3 is in phase with voltage I and is not influenced by either the magnitude or the phase angle of impedance 3. Hence the voltage appearing across impedance 3 is proportional in magnitude to impedance 3 and the voltage E0 leads the current in phase by 6, where which is the phase angle of Z0. In order to detect the presence of the phase angle 0 the circuit comprising switch t, resistance 5, and meter 6 is provided.

The operation of our circuit as shown in Figure 2 to detect the in-phase component of voltage across impedance 3, is illustrated in Figure 3. In the figure, curve (a) indicates the value of voltage V applied to the circuit of Figure 2. This voltage is a sine wave, having frequency corresponding to that of source 6. Curve (b) shows the voltage appearing across the impedance 3. This voltage lags or leads applied voltage V by a value determined by the relative reactive and resistive components of impedance 3, and has a magnitude proportional to the vectorial combination of these components of impedance 3, as indicated in Equation 1. For detection of the inphase component of voltage across impedance 3, we cause switch 4 to be closed only when voltage V is positive, thereby obtaining a current through resistor 5 of the wave shape shown in Figure 3(a). The average value of this current is:

where K is a constant of proportionality and i is the average current. This average current is then proportional to the resistive component of voltage drop across impedance 3, as shown in Figure 3(d).

Figure 4 illustrates how we measure the quadrature component of impedance. In the figure, curve (a) shows the applied .voltage V, which comprises a sine wave identical with that of Figure 3(a). Figure 4(1)) shows the voltage appearing across impedance 3, but shifted by an angle of degrees from the voltage shown in Fig. 3(b) This shift is obtained by a shifting circuit which will be described in further detail below. The curve of Figure 4(b) comprises a sine wave similar to that of Figure 4(a) except that it is shifted by an amount equal to 90 degrees plus the phase angle of impedance Z0, and has a magnitude corresponding to the value of impedance 3. We apply voltage to resistance 5, Figure 2, only when voltage V is positive, thereby obtaining a current through resistance 5, Figure 2, similar to that shown in Figure 4(0). The average value of the current shown in Figure 4(0) is given by:

This average current is shown in Figure Md).

In the above discussion, the voltage E has been considered as shifted 90 degrees in phase with respect to the voltage V. The same operation may be obtained by shifting the voltage V applied to the resolver circuits. In general, we prefer to shift the voltage V for the reason that phase shift circuits can be adapted to operate more satisfactorily at a particular constant voltage and the voltage V is more nearly constant when a large number of tests are made than is the voltage E and any change in its amplitude is less disturbing than is a change in amplitude of E. It will be understood, however, that either can be used and is considered to be within the scope of our invention.

By applying the voltage shown in Figure 3(d), to the horizontal deflection plates of a cathode ray tube, we obtain a deflection from the zero axis proportional to the resistance component of impedance 3, Figure 2. In addition, by applying a voltage such as Figure Md) which is proportional to the quadrature component of this voltage across impedance 3, Figure 2, to vertical defiection plates of the same cathode ray tube, we obtain a deflection along the X axis proportional to the reactance of impedance 3. Hence the oathode ray tube screen is illuminated at a point corresponding to the resistive and reactive components of impedance 3, Figure 2.

The basic principle of a resolver circuit whereby our invention may be practiced is shown in Figure 5. In the figure, tubes 1 and 8, each having at least a cathode, grid, and anode, have a common cathode connection connected to ground by cathode bias resistance l I. Pentode tubes may be used as amplifiers for their high plate resistance. Direct voltage source It is connected to the anode of tube 1 and through resistance 9 to the anode of tube 8. Voltage output is taken from the anode of tube 8, point l2, to ground. The voltage V, Figure 2, is applied to the grid of E=KZ3 sin 0 tube l, whereas the voltage across the impedance 3, Figure 2, is applied to the grid of tube 8'.

Operation of the circuit of Figure 5 is as follows. When voltage V is positive, space current flow takes place through tube 7 and cathode bias resistance ii. The value of this resistance and the current flow through tube '5 is sufiicient to cause tube 8 to be biased to cut-oif, thereby preventing current flow through tube 8 and causing point I2 to assume the full positive voltage of direct voltage source I ll. When voltage V goes negative, tube i is cut-ofi and no current flow takes place from this tube through cathode bias resistance II. Voltage E then controls current flow through tube 8 and the voltage drop across resistance 9, thereby causing point I2 to follow the voltage E for this portion of the cycle.

Figure 6 indicates the voltage of point I2 for various relations of the voltage E to the voltage V, voltage V being sinusoidal. In Figure 6(a), no voltage E is applied to the circuit and the voltage of point I2 passes from the full voltage value of direct source It to a lower voltage corresponding to the zero bias current flow through tube 2 resistances 9 and II. A square wave voltage is thereby produced having an average value midway between the two voltage conditions. Figure 6 (b) shows the voltage output of the circuit of Figure 5 for the case where the voltage E is a wave in phase with voltage V and having a maximum value just suih'cient to cause cut-off of tube 3. In this case, the portion of the cycle orresponding to negative values of voltage V causes full voltage of direct voltage source ii) to appear at point I2, thereby producing a condition identical with that of Figure 6(a). When V goes negative, tube I is cut off and the voltage of point 92 follows a sine wave. As shown in the figure, this sine wave has a peak va ue equal to the voltage of battery it and havi g a shape corresponding to a half sine wave. rage value of voltage shown in Figure 6(5) increased above the value shown in Figure 5(a) by an amount equal to the contribution of the half sine waves, in this case the increase be ng shown by the dashed line Figure 6(1)). Figure 6(0) the condition with the voltage E t degrees out of phase with respect to the voltr .7 and having the same magnitude as the in Figure 6(b), is shown. The voltage ap ea ing at point !2 then assumes the shape she. in figure 8(0) and has an average value to that shown in 6(a). This is indicated dashed line, Figure 6(0). he circuit shown in Figure 5 and the periance shown in Figure 6 is essentially a half ve system since only half of the voltage wave impedance 3 is utilized to produce voltage output. A full wave circuit, whereby superior pedorrnance may be achieved, is shown in Fig- In this figure, tubes I3 and I4 are aris applied to the grid of tube 53 and voltis applied to the grid of tube Id. The or tube is is connected through resistance voltage appearing at point I9, therefore, osponds to that shown in Figure 6 if only I3 and it are operating. Tubes I5 and 56 are dised in a circuit similar to that of Figure 5 exce that the grid of tube I5 is supplied with an inverse voltage equal to E and the grid of tube is is provided with an inverse voltage equal to V. The cathodes of tubes I5 and I6 are connected to ground by a common bias resistance 2i equal in value to that of resistance 2@. The anode of tube I5 is connected to the direct voltage source I7 through resistance I 8 and the anode of tube I6 connected to the direct voltage source l'I directly.

Operation of the circuits shown in Figure 'l is as follows, when the voltage V is greater than zero, tube I3 draws a high plate current, thereby causing voltage drop through resistance 20 which biases tube I4 to cut-off. Tube IE, however, is out off by reason of the reversed voltage V applied to its grid which is negative when voltage V is positive. Hence tube I5 is responsive to the inverse of voltage E applied to its grid. A voltage drop through resistance I8 is therefore produced which corresponds to the current flow in tube i5 and hence the shape of the voltage E. When the voltage V goes negative, tube 53 is out on" and tube l5 conducts. Tube I5 is thereby biased to cut-off and tube It responds to the voltage E. Current flow through tube It therefore causes a voltage drop in resistance It and corresponding voltage change at point 5%.

Operation of the circuit of Figure 7 is shown in further detail in Figure 8. In Figure 8(a), the voltage of point I9 is indicated for the con dition of zero voltage E. When voltage V is positive, the voltage shown in Figure 8(a) corresponds to the no bias current flow through tube I5, whereas when voltage V is negative, the voltage shown in Figure 8(a) corresponds to the no bias current flow through tube 14. Inasmuch as the construction of each group of tubes is identical, the constant voltage shown in the figure is produced at point 99. Figure 86'?) illustrates the voltage appearing at point is when the voltage E is in phase with the voltage V and of magnitude just suificient to cause cut-ofi of tube I4 or tube H5 at the peak value. The voltage appearing at point I9 then becomes a series of half sine waves displaced from origin, In Figure 8(0) the voltage corresponding to the condition when voltage E is degrees out of phase with respect to voltage V and of the same magnitude as shown in Figure 8(1)) is shown. In this case, the voltage at point it comprises a series of broken sine waves, having an average value equal to the value shown in Figure 8(a).

In the application of the resolved voltage such that derived from the circuit of Figure 8 to a cathode ray tube, it is desirable to have a voltage symmetrical with respect to ground potential. Figure 9 shows a circuit whereby this voltage may be achieved. In the figure, tubes 23, 2-5, 25, 2E, 2 are of construction similar to tubes l3, it, and iii, Figure 7. Resistance 33 is a common cathode bias resistance for tubes 23, 2%, and 25, while resistance 35 is a common cathode resistance for tubes 25, El, and 23. The anodes of tubes 23 and 2%} are connected directly to direct voltage source 22, whereas the anodes of tubes 24 and are connected to the direct voltage source through resistance 2%. Output voltage is taken across points 3! and 32. The voltage V is app-lied to the grid of tube 23 whereas the inverse voltage V is applied to the grid of tube 23. The voltage E is applied to the grids of tubes is and 2?, whereas the inverse voltage E is applied to the grids of tubes 26 and 25. The operation of our circuit shown in Figure 9 is as follows:

If the voltage V is positive, current flow through tube 23 causes a voltage drop in resistance 33 which biases tubes 24 and 26 to cut-off, thereby preventing current flow through either of these tubes. However, the negative voltage V applied to tube 28 biases it to cut-ofi' so that it causes no current flow through resistance 34. Tube 25 therefore carries plate current in accordance with the negative value of voltage E, and tube 21 carries plate current in proportion to the voltage E. This causes point 3! to swing positive in proportion to the value of voltage E and point 32 to swing negative in proportion to the value of voltage E. When the voltage V swings negative, tube 23 is cut off, thereby permitting operation of tubes 24 and 26. Current flow through tube 2d corresponds to the value of the negative voltage E, whereas current flow through tube 25 corresponds to the positive value of the voltage V. Point 3| then swings in the positive direction in accordance with the value of voltage E and point 32 in the negative direction in proportion to the value of voltage E. The negative voltage swing of voltage V causes tube 28 to conduct, thereby causing a voltage drop in resistance 3d which cuts off tubes 25 and 2?.

The voltage across points 3| and 32 may be directly applied to the electrostatic deflection plates of a cathode ray tube to obtain a' deflection corresponding to the in phase component of the voltage E.

An alternative method whereby a balanced voltage may be obtained for operation of a cathode ray tube is shown in Figure 10. In this case, the full wave circuit shown in Figure 3' is used to actuate a push-pull cathode coupled amplifier. The plates of tubes l4 and i5 are connected through resistance 35 to the grid of push-pull tube 39 and resistances 3% and 38 to the cathode. The common point of resistances 36 and 36 is connected to ground through resistance 3'1. Variable resistance 13 is adapted to control the direct voltage at the grid of tube 49. Resistances 4| and 5:2 connect the anodes of tubes 3?: and 46 respectively to direct voltage source 46. Output voltage is taken across the points 44 and "is connected to the anodes of tubes 39 and d respectively. In operation, a positive voltage swing appearing at the anodes of tubes 14 and i causes the increased plate current flow through tube 39 and a decreased potential at point 44, voltage r drop in resistances 31 and 38 decreases current flow through tube 48 and gives correspondingly increased value of voltage at point d5. A negative voltage swing has the reverse effect. Hence the circuit acts to provide a balanced output from the unbalanced voltage at the anodes of tubes I l and H5.

The circuit shown in Figure has the advantage of providing a ready means of adjusting the voltages appearing at points 44 and and is therefore particularly suitable for use with a cathode ray tube.

In the preceding discussion, the operation of our circuit as a means of obtaining the in phase component of voltage drop across impedance 3, Figure 2, has been described in detail. The quadrature component of voltage across impedance 3 may be obtained by the use of identical circuits except that a 90 degree phase displacement is applied to voltage V before it is inserted into the resolver circuits. This can be accomplished by a circuit such as shown in Figure 11. In this circuit, condenser 41 and resistor 48, and condenser 52 and resistor 5|, are provided across voltage V. The voltage e1 obtained from resistor 48 and condenser 4'! and the voltage e2 obtained from resistor 5| and condenser 52 are applied to diiferencer circuit 53, and the resulting output taken across points 54 and 55. This produces a voltage at points 54 and 5E proportional to the magnitude of the voltage across points 49 and 50, but differing in phase by an angle of degrees.

Figure 12 shows the operation of the circuit of Figure 11 over a considerable frequency range. The voltage 61 is directly proportional to frequency, whereas the voltage a; is inversely proportional to frequency. The difference between these two voltages passes from a relatively high value at low frequency to a minimum at the point where:

It then slowly rises as frequency is increased. By designing the circuit of Figure 11 to have the minimum value of output voltage close to the average frequency to be used, we achieve a 90 degree phase displacement which is independent of frequency and which produces an output voltage nearly independent of frequency.

Figure 13 shows a differencer circuit adapted to be used with the phase shifter of Figure 11. In the figure, the voltage 62, Figure 11, is applied to point 56 which is connected by coupling condenser 5l to the grid of tube 59. Similarly the voltage or is applied to point 68 and to the grid of tube 63 through coupling capacitor 6'1. The cathodes of tubes 59 and 63 are connected to 3 ground through a common cathode resistance 64 and 65. The plates of tubes 59 and B3 are connected by means of resistances E0 and 82 to direct voltage source 55. Output voltage is taken from point 69. When no voltage 62 is applied, the current flow through tube 63 is determined by the applied voltage at point 68 (c1) and the voltage drop across resistance 62 is proportional to this current. If a negative voltage 62 is applied to point 56, the current flow through tube 59 is reduced thereby, and a lower voltage drop takes place through cathode bias resistances 64 and 55. This causes a corresponding increase in current through tube 63 and increased voltage drop across resistance 62. On the other hand, if a positive voltage e2 is applied to point 56, increased current flow through tube 59 causes greater voltage drop through resistances 64 and 55, and hence a lower current to tube 53. The voltage drop across resistance 62, therefore, is proportional to the difference in voltage between or and c2. This automatically gives a voltage output curve similar to that shown in Figure 12.

Having described the principal elements of our invention we will now indicate how they may be combined to form a complete impedance plotting system. A block diagram of this system is shown in Figure 14 and a circuit diagram thereof is shown in Figures 15A, 13 and C. In the figures, ill is a cathode follower stage adapted to respond to input voltage of the frequency at which an impedance measurement is desired and is used for isolation of the oscillator supplying the signal to the system. Output voltage from cathode follower 10 is supplied to amplifier M, phase inverter 12, and cathode followers 13 and 16 to resolver M. In addition, output signals from cathode follower H! are applied to phase shift network 95, differencer 94, amplifier 93, phase inverter 9|, cathode followers 89 and 9D, and quadrature component resolver 86. The impedance to be tested, 96, is connected by large reno -v sistive impedance T! to the output of cathode follower 10. The output voltage across impedance 96, E, is applied to cathode follower 1'9, amplifier S9, and phase correction network 8!. One output signal from phase correction network BI is applied to direct axis amplifier '82, phase inverter 83, and to resolver 14. The voltage from phase correction network 81 is also applied to quadrature axis amplifier 88, phase inverter 87 and resolver The output of resolver M is amplified and applied to the horizontal deflection plates of cathode ray tube 84, whereas the output of resolver 85 is applied to direct coupled amplifier 85 and the vertical deflection plates of cathode ray tube 84. voltmeter 78 in conjunction with meter 91 is provided for measurement of the value of output from cathode follower iii.

In the operation of the vector impedance locus plotter shown in Figures 14 and 15, the output of cathode follower it is first adjusted for the desired value as indicated by meter 97. Resistance i7 is then adjusted to a value at least 100 times the impedance of the test impedance 95. For purposes of test a direct ground connection across the impedance being tested and a 50 ohm known resistive impedance are made available by switch 98. In adjusting the system, these two known values of impedance are used to center the spot on cathode ray tube 8 4 and properly adjust the reactive and resistance gain by phase correction network 85. Check gain switch 92 provides a further means of balancing the operation of the system. Switch 98 is then turned and measurements conducted.

We claim:

1. An impedance measuring circuit comprising a power source, a resistance, an impedance to be measured, a meter element, and a switch circuit for controlling flow of current to said meter element, said switch circuit including a first and second electron tube, each tube having a cathode, grid, and anode, the cathodes of both tubes being tied together, a common bias resistor connected between said cathodes and ground, a resistor connecting the anode of said second tube to a source of electric potential, a connection between the anode of the first tube and said source of electric potential, a lead to the grid of said first tube whereby the voltage across said power source may be applied between the grid and cathode of said first tube, a lead to the grid of said second tube whereby the voltage across said impedance may be applied between the grid and cathode of said second tube, and an output lead connected directly to the anode of said second tube.

2. An impedance measuring circuit as in claim 1 said switch circuit additionally including a third and fourth electron tube having grid and cathode connections identical with those of said first and second tubes, the plates of said third tube connected to said output lead and the plate of said fourth tube connected to said source of electric potential.

3. An impedance measuring circuit as in claim 2 wherein there is provided fifth and sixth tubes having cathodes tied together and grounded through a common bias resistor, the anodes of the fifth and sixth tubes each connected to second and third anode resistors, the grid of the said fifth tube connected to said output lead, the grid of said sixth tube connected to a potentiometer whereby an adjustable balanced output voltage may be taken from the circuit.

l. An impedance measuring circuit comprising a power source, a resistance, an impedance to be measured, a meter element and a switch circuit for controlling how of current to said meter, said switch circuit including first and second electron tubes each having a cathode, anode, and grid, each cathode having a cathode resistor connected to ground, each grid having an input lead whereby the voltage across said power source may be applied across the grid and cathode of each tube, the anodes of both tubes connected to a source of electric potential, third and fourth electron tubes having anodes that are tied together and connected to said source of potential through a first anode resistor, fifth and sixth electron tubes having anodes that are tied together and connected to said source of potential through a second anode resistor, the grid of said third tube tied to the grid of said sixth tube, the cathode of third tube tied to the cathodes of said first and fifth tubes, the grid of said fourth tube tied to the grid of said fifth tube, the cathode of said fourth tube tied to the cathodes of said second and sixth tubes, an input lead from one side of said impedance to said tied grids of the third and sixth tubes, an input lead from the other side of said impedance to said tied grids of the fourth and fifth tubes, and output leads tapped from the anode sides of said first and second anode resistors.

5. An impedance measuring device comprising a power source, an impedance to be measured in series with said power source, resolver circuits connected to said impedance for producing a first voltage proportional to the resistance and a second voltage proportional to the reactance of said impedance, said resolver circuits including least one switch unit comprising a pair of electron tubes having a common cathode resistance so that current fiow in one tube is adapted to produce cut ofi bias in the other tube.

5. An impedance measuring device comprising a power source, an impedance to be measured in series with said power source, resolver circuits connected to said impedance for producing a first voltage proportional to the resistance and a second voltage proportional to the reactance of said impedance, an oscilloscope having a first set of voltage plates at right angles to a second set of voltage plates, means to apply said first and second voltages across said first and second sets of plates respectively, said resolver circuits including at least one switch unit comprising a pair of electron tubes having a common cathode resistor so that current flow in one tube is adapted to produce cut off bias in the other tube, the anodes of said tubes connected to a common source of potential, an anode resistor in the anode circuit of said other tube so that the potential at the anode side of said anode resistor is at a maximum when said other tube is cut off.

7. In combination, an impedance measuring circuit comprising a voltage source, a resistance and an impedance connected in series relationship, a switcher, a meter element responsive to average voltage, means connecting said switcher and said meter element to said impedance so that said switcher applies a voltage proportional to the voltage drop across said impedance to said meter element when the first named voltage is of a predetermined polarity, a phase shifter, means connecting said phase shifter to said voltage source, a second meter element responsive to average voltage and a second switcher connected to said impedance, said second switcher adapted to apply a quadrature component voltage to said second meter element, said switchers each ineluding a pair of electron tubes having a common cathode resistor so that current fiow in a first tube produces cut cit bias for the second tube, the anodes or" said tubes bein connected to a common source of potential, an anode resistor in the anode circuit of said second tube so that the potential at the anode side of said anode resistor is at a maximum when said second tube is cut off.

8. An impedance measuring circuit comprisin a serially connected alternating current source of a predetermined voltage and an impedance to be measured, a meter element responsiv to average voltage, a switcher connected between said impedance and said meter element for applying a voltage to said meter proportional to the voltage across said impedance when current fiow is of P determined direction, a second meter element responsive to average voltage, a second switcher, means connecting said second meter and said second switcher to said impedance, and a phase shifter connected to said alternating current source for applying a quadrature component voltage to said second meter element, said switchers including a pair of electron tubes havin a common cathode resistor so that current flow in a first tube produces cut oii bias on a second tube, the anode of said first tube being connected to a common source of potential, an anode resistor in the anode circuit of said second tube so that the potential at the anode side of said anode resistor is a maximum when said other tube is cut off.

9. An impedance measuring device comprising a current source, an impedance to be measured in series relationship therewith, a circuit responsive to average voltage, a switcher connected to said impedance and said circuit for applying voltage to said circuit when current flow in said impedance is of predetermined direction, a second circuit responsive to average voltage, a second switcher connected between said impedance and said circuit for applying a quadrature voltage to said last mentioned circuit when current flow in said impedance is of predetermined direction, a display system connected to said circuits responsive on one axis to the output of said first mentioned circuit and responsive on a second axis at right angles to said first axis to the output of said last mentioned circuit, said switches each including a pair of electron tubes having a common cathode resistor so that current flow in a first tube produces cut off bias for the other tube, the anodes of said first tubes being connected to a common source of potential, an anode resistor in the anode circuit of each of said second tubes so that the potential at the anode side of said anode resistor is at a maximum when said other tube is cut ofi.

10. An impedance measuring circuit comprising a voltage source, a resistance, and an impedance to be measured in series relationship therewith, a meter element responsive to average voltage, a switcher connected between said impedance and said meter for applying a voltage proportional to the voltage drop across said impedance to said meter when said applied voltage is of predetermined polarity, means for impressing on said impedance a voltage in quadrature with said voltage source and means for applying a voltage of opposite polarity proportional to the voltage drop across said impedance to said meter when said applied voltage is of opposite polarity, said switchers each including a pair of electron tubes having a common cathode resistor so that current fiow in a first tube produces cut off bias in the second tube, the anodes of said first tubes being connected to a common source of potential, an anode resistor in the anode circuit of each of said second tubes so that the potential at the anode side of said anode resistor is at a maximum when said other tube is cut off.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,081,690 Unk May 25, 1937 2,232,792 Leven Feb. 25, 1941 2,266,509 Percival et a1 Dec. 16, 1941 2,406,405 Salisbury Aug. 2'7, 1946 2,470,412 Piety May 17, 1949 

